Running with Sasquatch is more than just a clever marketing campaign. As a Jack Link’s team member, Running with Sasquatch means we roll up our buffalo plaid sleeves and do the hard work first. We don’t shy away from challenges. In fact, we push hard and take risks. True to our North Woods roots, we're a bunch of ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things by driving results with innovation, creativity and a clear sense of urgency. Like our awesome protein products, we have an unwavering passion for quality, and you won’t find anything artificial here. What you see is what you get… authentic, humble and fun people who Run with Sasquatch!

Running with Sasquatch takes a team. We invite you to run with us, succeed with us, and celebrate with us. Most importantly, Feed Your Wild Side with us on our journey to be the dominant global leader of branded protein snacks!

Jack Link's Protein Snacks is a global leader in snacking and the No. 1 meat snack manufacturer worldwide. Still family-owned and operated with headquarters in Minong, Wisconsin, Jack Link’s also has a large corporate hub in Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, and operates a total of 11 manufacturing and distribution facilities in four countries. Jack Link’s produces high-quality, great-tasting protein snacks that feed the wild sides of consumers around the world. Jack Link's Protein Snacks family of brands includes Jack Link's, Lorissa's Kitchen, World Kitchens Jerky, Bifi and Peperami.

Come Run with Sasquatch as our Director of Research and Development! In this role, you will provide technical leadership in a high growth food category for the design, development & implementation of product development initiatives to support and deliver Annual Operating Plan and Strategic business goals/objectives. Additionally, you will maintain effective cross functional relationships with Sales Leadership, Marketing, Operations, QA & Purchasing to ensure successful planning & execution of product development initiatives. Utilize existing technology or develop new technology to provide customer valued points of competitive differentiation that drive tactical & strategic business growth. Develop a long-term technology roadmap to that deliver profitable opportunities with sustained or improved customer/consumer quality ratings. Maintain ongoing working relationships with Global R&D subject matter experts to ensure use of “best practices” and to incorporate applicable technology developments into business unit development programs.

The duties and responsibilities of this position shall consist of, but not be limited to, the following:

• Directs the development of new products and product improvements from the concept phase to successful commercialization.
• Maintains complete, prioritized project list and communicates regular updates to leadership.
• Lead in the development and operation of new state-of-the-art technical facility.
• Develop project strategy and project timelines which balance group workload, while maintaining business priorities.
• Lead development of new products to match the ingredient statement, nutritional profile and product attributes of the target product.
• Determine project feasibility and key product attributes leading to the creation of successful products that are aligned with Sales & Marketing on development strategy.
• Continuously improve product and processes for greater product quality and profitability.
• Formulate technical response to customer inputs, comments or complaints.
• Champion quality awareness. Maintain product quality across our product lines.
• Manage the expenses associated with the R&D department as prescribed by the annual budget.
• Travels when required, up to 50%, to customer meetings, manufacturing plants, and other business-related events outside corporate offices.
• Responsible for subordinate recruitment, training, work assignment performance evaluation, feedback, and career development.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• BS in Food Science, Meat Science or Chemical Engineering or equivalent combination of education and experience, MS or MBA strongly preferred
• Minimum 10 years of Product Development/Tech Services experience in the packaged goods (retail) food manufacturing industry required.

• Demonstrated project management experience.
• Experience in multiple product categories.
• Proven track record in people management (developing, coaching, mentoring, directing) and budget management.
• Ability to effectively build and maintain strong working relationships with both internal and external customers.
• Experience with using a full range of statistical and analytical tools and fundamentals.
• Direct knowledge of food manufacturing regulations, food plant sanitation and microbiology.
• Excellent communication, influencing and problem solving skills.
• Ability to effectively work and communicate with individuals at varying levels: management, plant workers, and customers.
• Ability to be self-directed, forward thinking and make complex decisions that drive business performance.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Products
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time

Excellent verbal and written communication skills; must work effectively with all levels of management and employees

Must demonstrate effective leadership, problem solving, presentation, and employee motivational skills.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to be successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to sit, and reach with hands and arms.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant / office setting with varying degrees of temperatures and noise levels. Exposure to manufacturing equipment movement and wet / slippery floors. Travel may be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
Jack Link's is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

E-Verify
Jack Link's provides the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new Team Member’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. IMPORTANT: If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, we are required to provide you written instructions and an opportunity to contact SSA and/or DHS before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. We do not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants or to re-verify current employees and may not limit or influence the choice of documents presented for use on the Form I-9. In order to determine whether Form I-9 documentation is valid, we use E-Verify’s photo screening tool to match the photograph appearing on some permanent resident and employment authorization cards with the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) photograph. If you believe that Jack Link’s has violated our responsibilities under this program or has discriminated against you during the verification process based upon your national origin or citizenship status, please call the Office of Special Counsel at 1-800-255-7688 (TDD: 1-800-237-2515).